Here’s another approach to 3D Printing. It’s called Polyjet and uses a UV curable resin sprayed through inkjet nozzles
Min layer height is .015 mm. Repraps have almost gotten that (.03 is the best I’ve seen without surface issues) This is also subject to the same limitations as reprap, except it can’t bridge.
I work with wide format machines & know very little about 3D printing but this makes sense to me.
They use a dissolvable support to support bridges/overhang. The creme-de-la-creme resolution wise are the SolidScape machines. They print wax masters. Super fine resolution, but the prints are brittle. Usually the print is investment cast to make it more durable.
No they aren’t, they’re using support.
Seems like a lot of potential for easy multicolor printing…
Forgot multicolour: Think multi-material. Need your part to have a cushioning inner layer printed inside the hard durable outside? How about multiple sections of flexible and stiff material that enable movement but still provide durability? Hmmm…
Because that’s what this machine can do too.
@Theo_Deyle - I was thinking similarly, but wasn’t sure if they had already developed the necessary UV curable/sprayable “soft” material yet…
Objet has been doing this for a long time… and yes, they have soft support material and rubbery materials that can be mixed to make soft parts on things (like the rubbery bits on toothbrush handles, etc.)
I reckon the waxy, washable support material must be pretty easy to work with.
@Thomas_Horst , Objet is now a line of Stratasys printers. Anyway, there’s been quite some talking around so-called ‘digital materials’. Point is file format: supposedly current STL surface based information will evolve into sort of a point to point geometric and physical, definition.
This is an objet printer, I work with one regularly and the waxy support material is very hard to remove totally. While they have high resolution the material is rather brittle. http://www.wired.com/design/2012/12/stratasys-objet-merger/
Hi @Justin_Cole , thank you for your feedback. I never really got the chance to get my hands dirty on an Objet printer. Since you sound pretty experienced, could I profit form you and your knowledge and ask you some questions?
I heard Objet materials’ mechanical properties are prone to degrade very fast when components are exposed to visible radiations. So - as more questions come up my mind I think I’ll go general - what is your experience with such resins?
I have just used them at work with prototypes, I do not really know about the degrading. We don’t really use the parts for very long. I do know that they are more brittle as compared to abs prints. I am sorry, I wish I had more information for you. I primarily print with abs on my personal printer and the other printers we have at work.